Our saws are some of the most powerful tools we own, but they can quickly lose this power when they become blunt.
Working with a blunt saw or even one that’s just a little less than sharp can have dangerous consequences for your safety, as well as give you an unsatisfactory finish on your piece.
There’s no need to feel overwhelmed when it comes time to sharpen your saw blade as it can be done in a few easy steps. As there are many different types of blades, this handy guide will help you sharpen your circular saw blade and all you need are a few simple tools.
As always when dealing with your saw, though you should stay protected and be aware of safe operating measures. Keep your eyes protected with goggles and wear heavy duty gloves to keep your hands protected from the newly sharpened blades.
Contents
Preparing Your Blade
To get your blade ready for sharpening, all you need to do is use a brush to get rid of any pieces in between the teeth.
Use the soft brush to then apply Vaseline to the saw and leave it to set for half an hour to allow all of the grime and resin to soften up.
Clamp your blade down into the jig to keep it secure, and then use a wire brush and WD40 to clean it out in a backward and forwards motion.
Ensure that you get right into the teeth to get every last bit out and prepare it for sharpening.
If you usually become lost when sharpening your saw and aren’t sure where you started, you can simply make a mark on the first tooth to remind yourself where you began.
This will mean you don’t do more work than necessary and can show you how far you’ve come.
Sharpening The Blade
With the preparations complete, you can take a handheld file set to sharpen the blade. Use a forward stroke without going back and forward as this will blunt the file.
Focus your sharpening to the top of the tooth and when you see bright steel you can move your way around to the front. Work your way around to each of the teeth until you’re done, and then you can finish the job.
Finishing Touches
Once all of the teeth are sharpened, you’ll have to then clean off the blade before you can use it again. Take a soft brush and a rag, and work your way around the blade to clean it off from any residue.
When done, you’re finally ready to use your freshly sharpened saw and enjoy the difference.
Resources TheSpruce TheFabricator
